Barbosa, Elisabeti de Fátima Teixeira (2024) Influence of user's behavior on thermoenergetic performance in higher education buildings. PhD thesis, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Brazil.
Abstract
Universities must serve as examples of sustainability, ensuring information, rational use of natural resources, and specialized professionals to society to provide a better future for the next generations. This research analyzes user behavior factors that can influence university buildings' thermoenergetic performance. Given the vote on users' perception and thermal preferences, we sought to determine which means to achieve environmental comfort and whether this action can affect the energy performance of buildings. A broad bibliographic review and formulation of the methodological bases for a case study were carried out, focusing on a set of buildings of the State University of Campinas-UNICAMP. For this purpose, twenty-two buildings with different construction periods and categories of use, such as health, teaching, library, and administrative areas, were selected. In addition, thirty-six representative environments were researched internally for a more detailed analysis of users' environmental, personal, and behavioral data. The method included three stages: a) analysis of the building's energy performance by RTQ-C, in the envelope and air conditioning systems; b) analysis of the quality of representative environments with measurement of environmental variables and calculation of the Estimated Average Vote (PMV) and Estimated Percentage of Dissatisfied Users (PEI); c) naturalistic observation (without interference) of user behavior. One thousand one hundred fifty-four questionnaires related to thermal sensation and preference were applied, as well as questions on how environments and air conditioning equipment were used. At the same time, how air conditioning equipment, windows, and doors were used were observed and noted. The results indicate the performance of the envelope system corresponding to levels (C and D) for the different construction phases existing on Campus. They also indicate the need for attention and careful consideration of aspects of thermal comfort in the envelopes of buildings to be constructed at the university since this item is difficult to improve after construction. Regarding user behavior, actions are needed to improve user habits regarding how they use air conditioning equipment with doors and windows open and even forget them for days without using the rooms. Regarding thermal performance, the health area building was more uncomfortable with higher temperatures, even with the air conditioning on. This may be related to its implementation with high solar incidence through the windows and its air conditioning equipment's low quality and outdated nature.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | air conditioning; environmental variables; public buildings; sustainability; thermal comfort |
| Index terms: | energy performance, construction phase, implementation, comfort, thermal comfort, higher education, thermal sensation, natural resource, thermal preference, case study, preference, air conditioning, habit, public building, window, thermal performance, questionnaire, society |
| Subjects: | communities and social development, decision-making and reasoning, architectural elements, contractual arrangements, environmental resource management, health behaviours and lifestyles, construction type, environmental engineering, educational institutions, occupational health and safety management, project delivery, energy systems, data collection methods |
| Topics: | Procurement, Sustainability, Health and Safety, Project Management, Engineering Principles, Education, Stakeholder Management, Construction Technology, Research Practice, Design Practice |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCEA |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here